Since the beginning of the Iran war in late February and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Americans have been feeling the effects at the gas pump.
After the conflict started, prices rose sharply across the US. AAA data show the national average peaked in May at roughly $4.56 per gallon, then zigzagged through the end of August, averaging $4.09. Now, as average prices continue to creep up, hitting $4.15 on Friday, AAA expects this to be the most expensive Labor Day on record for gas.
To provide a snapshot of where prices stood heading into the holiday weekend, Business Insider used AAA data to calculate the percent change in gas prices in the 10 priciest and the 10 cheapest states from August 27 to September 4. We also looked at the gas prices on September 4 and compared them with prices reported one year ago.
"The national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day. The current Labor Day record is $3.82, set on September 3, 2012," AAA said in a press release. "Even though gasoline demand decreases this time of year, typically bringing down gas prices, this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil."
Still, there are a few ways travelers could score cheaper gas. Chevron rolled out a summer discount for new rewards members, offering $1 off per gallon for up to five fill-ups at participating stations. Maverik, a gas-station chain with stores across the Midwest and western US, has offered eligible customers 15 cents off per gallon since May 12; the promotion ends on Labor Day.
Here are the states with the highest and lowest gas prices nationwide in August.
10. Utah
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.40
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.42
Percent change from late August: 0.5% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.32
Percent change from one year ago: 33.3% increase
9. Wyoming
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.41
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.37
Percent change from late August: 0.9% decrease
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.14
Percent change from one year ago: 39.1% increase
8. Arizona
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.54
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.53
Percent change from late August: 0.2% decrease
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.49
Percent change from one year ago: 29.8% increase
7. Idaho
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.57
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.62
Percent change from late August: 1.1% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.47
Percent change from one year ago: 33.1% increase
6. Oregon
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.76
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.00
Percent change from late August: 5.0% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.98
Percent change from one year ago: 25.5% increase
4. Nevada (tie)
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.81
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $4.95
Percent change from late August: 2.9% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.84
Percent change from one year ago: 28.9% increase
4. Alaska (tie)
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $4.81
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.00
Percent change from late August: 4.0% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.76
Percent change from one year ago: 33.0% increase
3. Washington
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.27
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.48
Percent change from late August: 4.0% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.40
Percent change from one year ago: 24.7% increase
2. Hawaii
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.41
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.42
Percent change from late August: 0.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.47
Percent change from one year ago: 21.1% increase
1. California
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $5.63
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $5.81
Percent change from late August: 3.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $4.61
Percent change from one year ago: 26.1% increase
41. Indiana
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.46
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.45
Percent change from late August: 0.3% decrease
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $3.23
Percent change from one year ago: 6.7% increase
42. Texas
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.63
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.69
Percent change from late August: 1.7% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.78
Percent change from one year ago: 32.9% increase
43. Mississippi
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.65
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.73
Percent change from late August: 2.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.73
Percent change from one year ago: 36.6% increase
44. South Carolina
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.67
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.77
Percent change from late August: 2.7% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.87
Percent change from one year ago: 31.7% increase
45. Louisiana (tie)
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.69
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.77
Percent change from late August: 2.2% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.80
Percent change from one year ago: 34.6% increase
45. Tennessee (tie)
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.69
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.83
Percent change from late August: 3.8% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.85
Percent change from one year ago: 34.3% increase
47. Alabama
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.71
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.80
Percent change from late August: 2.4% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.84
Percent change from one year ago: 34.0% increase
48. Kentucky
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.73
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.86
Percent change from late August: 3.5% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.94
Percent change from one year ago: 31.3% increase
49. Arkansas
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.74
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.78
Percent change from late August: 1.1% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.81
Percent change from one year ago: 34.4% increase
50. North Carolina
Gas price on August 27, 2026: $3.76
Gas price on September 4, 2026: $3.85
Percent change from late August: 2.4% increase
Gas price on September 4, 2025: $2.91
Percent change from one year ago: 32.5% increase
